Third generation (N300)
2018 Toyota Tacoma
The most reported problem on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma is brake wear, with 47 complaints, usually around 15,000 miles.
- 206owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 7involved a crash
- 16,500median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Tacoma doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma has 206 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 350 for 2018 pickups on this site. Of the 12 Tacoma model years since 2014, it has the 4th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017 and 2019
- At 23 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs close to the 2017 (24) and below the 2019 (27).
- Top problem
- Brake wear leads with 47 of the 206 complaints (23%), ahead of stalling at 28. Brake wear tends to show up early. Of the 24 owners who gave a mileage for it, half were under about 15,000 miles and a quarter under about 6,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 7 of the 206 complaints (3%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 7 reports mention a crash and 2 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 5 of 7, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Brake wear and fuel pump each have a recall on the same system (18V-888; 20V-012 and 20V-682). Stalling has none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2020 at 65 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 19. So far in 2026, 17 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 47 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
206 complaints is 1.3 times fewer than the median 2018 model on this site and 1.7 times fewer than the median 2018 pickup. Among the 12 Tacoma model years here it ranks 4th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma
Toyota filed 294 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 Toyota Tacoma. 12 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 3 bulletins · 47 complaints
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Some 2017 ? 2019 model year Tacoma vehicles with the BD20 differential (non-TRD) may exhibit a noise or vibration from the rear of the vehicle at low speeds or while braking.
1 more on this problem
Some 2015 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit brake vibration due to improper lug nut torque. Brake vibration can occur at any time if improper torque is applied to lug nuts. Even one lug nut over or under torqued can cause vibration.
Paint peels or body rusts 7 bulletins · 11 complaints
Some 2016 – 2022 model year Tacoma vehicles with Super White (040) paint may exhibit paint peeling along the exterior window door frames, inner fender edges under the hood, and/or A-pillars. The affected panel(s) require repainting to address this condition.
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere.
5 more on this problem
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover.
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds.
Some 2016 – 2022 model year Tacoma vehicles with Super White (040) paint may exhibit paint peeling along the exterior window door frames and/or inner fender edges under the hood. The affected panel(s) require repainting to address this condition.
Some 2010 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard?.
Some 2016 ? 2019 model year Tacoma vehicles may exhibit corrosion or paint blistering on the front and/or rear lower door sill(s). Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition
Suspension noise, struts or alignment 2 bulletins · 6 complaints
TT: Some 2018-2020 model year Tacoma vehicles may exhibit a front vibration when braking, typically experienced at speeds above 35 mph.
TT: Some 2018 model year vehicles may exhibit a squeak or rattle noise from the Front Right Body Mount Bushing (No. 1) when driving over uneven roads or bumps.
Complaints filed by year
65 complaints came in 2020. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2018 Toyota Tacoma
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma vehicles. Improper machining of the brake master cylinder may result in internal damage of one of the seals, affecting brake performance.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began January 28, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J16/J06.
All 3 recalls on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?
Brake wear, with 47 of the 206 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 15,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Tacoma problems start?
Of the 92 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 6,000 miles and half by about 16,000.
Is the 2018 Toyota Tacoma better or worse than the 2017 and 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has about as many complaints as the 2017 and fewer complaints than the 2019: 23 a year against 24 and 27.
How many 2018 Toyota Tacoma complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
7 of them (3%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 18V-888. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.